Donna VanBuecken has worked with invasive species for nearly 40 years, beginning as an at-large member of the Wild Ones and then as a founding member of the Fox Valley Area Chapter, where she has served on the Board of Directors for over 20 years. She also served as the national Wild Ones first Executive Director for 17 years.

As a founding member of the Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin, Donna served on the Board for five years and as Membership Chair.

Donna’s Crusader Award plaque is made out of non-native invasive Buckthorn of the genus (Rhamnus). A good use for such beautiful wood.

Donna’s work focuses on native habitat restoration while recognizing the necessity of controlling invasive plants as a vital first step. Besides her work with Wild Ones Ones, she also does outreach to local communities and hunting and wildlife groups, and internationally to countless individuals through her social media blog Accent on Natural Landscaping.

Thank you, Donna, for all your hard work and continuous efforts to sustain Wisconsin’s Conservation Movement.

Thank You Conservationists!

Although Donna received an Invader Crusader Award, she is not the only on who deserves our thanks. The Wisconsin Invasive Species Council also recognized the work of several other conservationists with this award. You can read all about them in the WDNR Weekly News.

And, finally, we also want to thank the countless volunteers who fight to protect our environment from non-native invasive plant species and the countless native plant enthusiasts who fight to provide a better environment for all life on this Earth. Without these conservationists’ devotion to our planet, WCHF and the Wisconsin Conservation Movement would be a rather dismal undertaking. Thank you all so very much!